Beach · County Clare
Fánóir
Fanore
Can I swim here? Outside the bathing season
The bathing season runs from 1 June to 15 September. Outside it the water is not tested weekly and lifeguards are not on duty. The last sample, on 1 September 2026, was excellent. Live status on beaches.ie, which the EPA updates hourly in season.
Fanore is a sandy beach underlain by gently sloping stepped limestone, which is exposed in parts at low tide. Fanore beach contains a dune area to the northeast which supports a variety of vegetation. Activities include surfing and wind surfing. Motorised watercraft, surfing and the use of canoes and kayaks is prohibited in close proximity to swimmers. Beach bye-laws are in place with horse riding and dogs prohibited between 11am and 6pm during the summer season.
Excellent (2025): The highest standard: results over four years were consistently very clean.
The record, year by year
| Year | EPA classification | Samples | Excellent | Good | Sufficient | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | — | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | Excellent | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | Excellent | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Excellent | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Excellent | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Facilities
| Lifeguards | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | Yes | |
| Parking | Yes | |
| Wheelchair access | No | |
| Beach wheelchair | No | |
| Public transport | No | |
| First aid | Yes | Available at Lifeguard hut |
| Lifebuoy | Yes | |
| Information board | Yes | |
| Activity zones | Yes | Information at Lifeguard Hut |
| Litter bins | Yes | |
| Recycling | Yes |
Dogs and cars
- Dogs on a leadBefore 11 am and after 6 pm during summer season, otherwise not allowed at all times onto beach during the summer.
- No cars on the beach
Latest sample (2026-09-01): E. coli <10, intestinal enterococci <10 (cfu/100 ml).
The EPA's bathing water profile
Outdoors in County Clare this week
Best day outdoors: Sat, 10 Oct — dry by day, breezy, up to 13°C
- Fri, 9 Oct14° / 11°Drizzle
- Sat, 10 Oct13° / 8°Sun with grey cloud
- Sun, 11 Oct15° / 14°Drizzle
Make a day of it
The nearest trails, beaches, woods and heritage within 25 km.
Trails & walks
Beaches & bathing waters
Forests & woodlands
Parks, gardens & islands
Nature spot · 1.7 km awayMurrooghtoohyBeachFanoreReach the pinnacle of Murrooghtoohy in County Clare and enjoy the amazing views of Galway Bay, the Aran Islands, Oranmore Bay and Galway City.
Nature spot · 2.6 km awayCaher Bridge GardenGardenFanoreSet in the beautiful Burren region of County Clare, Caher Bridge Garden is found near Fanore. It is based around a restored riverside cottage and blends sensitively with its surroundings.